The Parable of the Sower

Living by God’s Words
Matthew 11-15
“And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” (13:23).
Many people are familiar with the parable of the Sower. It is a story that is told often and one that we know but find difficult to apply. In the story, the farmer goes out and broadcasts the seed indiscriminately throughout the field. But the soil is not the same in every location. Each soil represents different levels of receptivity toward the gospel. However, it does not just apply to those who hear the gospel message of salvation; it applies to all of us whenever we hear the message of the Bible. It calls on all of us to evaluate our preparation and response when the message of the Bible is presented to us.
The first soil is the hard-packed pathway, where the ground is hard and stony, and nothing can take much root, so it is quickly taken away by the birds eager to find their next meal. This soil represents those who hear the teaching of the Bible, but it does not lead to any change. How often do we hear the message but either do not understand it or do not apply it to our lives? How many times do we attend church and walk away unchanged? How many times do we forget what the message is about by the time we arrive home? When we remain unchanged after encountering the message, we are the hard-packed soil. We may know what the Bible says, but it does not change our lives.
The second soil represents those who understand the message and even rejoice in it. We walk out of the church, shake the pastor’s hand, and genuinely remark on how wonderful and meaningful the message was to us. However, by the time we arrive home, our enthusiasm begins to wane. As soon as we get home, we become distracted by all the other activities of the day: the football game on TV, the picnic on a Sunday afternoon, and the demands of the job the next day. The message that was initially so moving to us is quickly pushed aside and forgotten, so that in the end we are not changed by it.
The third soil describes those who hear the message but because it contradicts their priorities and views, they dismiss it.  We become distracted by the events and philosophy of our world.  Instead of conforming our lives to the message, we conform the message to the way we desire to live.  Instead of being changed by the message of the Bible, we change the message to fit our own perspective.  Like the previous two soils, in the end we remain unchanged by the message of God’s word.
The only productive soil is the individual who not only hears the word but is transformed by it. When we are fruitful soil, we do more than gain knowledge of the Bible; we are changed by its message. It changes how we live in the world. This requires preparation and response. When we open the pages of scripture, are we reading to gain knowledge or to change our lives to conform to the message of the Bible? Do we respond in complete obedience? The fruit is the changed life one experiences. Perhaps the greatest tragedy of all is not just those who reject the Bible, but also those who are faithful to read the Bible, listen to it preached, yet remain unchanged by its message. When we read the Bible, we need to do so with an attitude of surrender and submission, as well as a firm commitment to be transformed by it. What type of soil are you today?